The sole purpose of the Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council Region 9, Inc. (SAWDC) is to facilitate the establishment of a seamless workforce development system that supports economic and job development to meet the needs of business and industry in our community. The council promotes collaboration among education, training and business resources to produce a better standard of living for individuals in our community. These directives were established by an executive order issued by Governor Bob Riley, with the goal of building a highly skilled and competitive workforce that would strengthen Alabama’s economic development.

SAWDC is one of ten regional workforce development councils that were established to ensure representation of diverse businesses and communities throughout the state. SAWDC serves 8 counties in Southwest Alabama consisting of Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington counties.

SAWDC grew out of a partnership between the City of Mobile, Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, The Community Foundation of South Alabama, the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Mobile Works and the Mobile Area Education Foundation. Representatives from these organizations formed a steering committee to develop a strategic plan for workforce development in Southwest Alabama.

The Community Foundation of South Alabama provides office space, as well as strategic and tactical advice that will help SAWDC to become established and advance the mission of successful employment throughout a mutual eight county service area. While SAWDC was working to establish their nonprofit status, CSFA obtained a $50,000 grant to further the SAWDC mission and provided the mechanism to receive charitable donations to support the “Wouldn’t it be Cool” career exploration program for children in the fourth grade.

SAWDC recently presented a project overview to the CFSA Board of Directors.

Bob Higgins, Chairman of The Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council Region 9, declared “SAWDC is in the partnership business.” SAWDC has established a council with over 40 business leaders, school superintendents, college presidents and elected leaders to direct the education and training that is needed to develop our local economy by delivering a trained workforce for local business and industry.

With an eye on the future, The Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council Region 9 (SAWDC) strives to provide workforce development for unskilled individuals with the goal of promoting successful employment. The council promotes a seamless network of education, training and employer resources to provide workforce development training. The end result of working with a network of partners to promote successful employment will produce long term prosperity for our citizens and employers.

June 2009